Thomas Rachel criticizes Die Linke election program

Thomas Rachel, chairman of the Evangelical Working Group of the CDU/CSU (EAK), has issued a sharp critique of the Die Linke party's election program for the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt.

The controversy stems from a statement in the Die Linke program which advocates for combating religious fundamentalism, whether of a “Christian-evangelical or jihadist nature,” through intervention, prevention, and civil society initiatives. Rachel described this comparison as an “appalling defamation” of a diverse and living branch of Christian faith in Germany.

Rachel argued that equating evangelical Christianity with Islamist jihadism is unfounded, noting that pietistic-evangelical traditions in Germany have historically been characterized by peacefulness and tolerance. He further accused the party of downplaying the dangers of Islamism and acting hypocritically to distract from problematic ties to Islamist circles within their own ranks and voter base.